Fire-escape



- (No Model.)

' A. JJWINDMAY ER.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 307 247. Patented 00t.28, 1884 I! Mir 1mm .11

X INVENTOR BY ME ATTORNEYS.

{wires STATES ATENT FFIQEO' FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,247, dated October 28, 1884-.

Application filed August 5, 1384. (No model.)

' To all whom it 777/012} concern:

Beit known that I, ALEXANDER. J. WIND- MAYER, of Fort Madison, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented a new I which chute or bag the persons to be rescued slide.

The object of my invention is to provide a safe fire-escape which is simple in construction, can be erected very easily and rapidly, and can be folded verycompactly when notin use.

The invention consists of the tubular bag or chute with one end connected to a frame hinged to a truck, and provided with a top cross-bar having lateral extensions or arms to rest against a window-frame when the bag or chute is extended, said frame also being connected to the truck by jointed braces, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate eon responding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my i1nproved fire escape, showing it folded. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, showing it erected. Fig. 3 is an inside perspective view showing the manner in which it-is placed at the window. Fig. 4 is an exterior view of the building with the fire-escape lowered.

A. long bag or chute, A, made of canvas orother suitable material, and open at both ends, is folded regularly and placed on atruck, B, provided with wheels 0 and handles D. One end of the bag is secured firmly to a frame, E, which is hinged tothe frame of the truck Bin such a manner that when the frame E is placed in a vertical. position its lower ends will rest on the ends of the side bars of the truck-flame. At the pivoted or hinged end of the frame E a cushion, F, is arranged, which can be placed over the window-sill G.

The end of the chuteAis secured in the frame E in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, above the cushion F. Hinged braces H are secured to the frame E and to the sides of the truck-frame, for the purpose of holding the frame E in a vertical position. A chain, rope, or analogous. device, K, is secured at one end to one of the side bars of the truck, and is provided at the opposite end with a catch or device for holding it to the other side bar of the truck. The chute or bag A is provided at the end opposite the one secured to the frame E with handles L. The

top cross-bar, M, of the frame E must be of of the cross-bar H must rest against the uprights of the window-frame, and not against the sash.

The fire escape is used in the following manner: Generally it is folded, as shown in Fig. 1, and placed in the hall, a closet,or any other place where it is out of the way, but can easilybe reached in case of an emergency, when the truck is trundled to a window, the chain K is loosened, the frame E is swung into a vertical position, and at the same time the bag or chute A is dropped out of the window. The weight of the chute presses the top cross-piece, M, of the frame E against the uprights of the window-framc. The cushion F is placed over the sill G, and the lower end of the chute A is held by afew powerful men, who grasp the handles L on the free end of the chute, and thus prevent the chute from hanging vertically, as it is necessary that the chute should have a certain inclination to prevent the persons from sliding down too rapidly.

The persons to be rescued step-through the.

frame E into the upper end of the chute, and then slide down the same. By pressing the knees and elbows against the chute or bag sufficient friction is produced to check the speed of the descent.

This fire-escape is very safe and reliable, can be unfolded in a very shorttimc, and cocupies very little space when not in use.

I am aware that the el'nplo'yinent in connection with a truck of a chute with one end con nected to and resting upon a board or support pivoted to said truck to support said chute ed to conform in width about to the window- When inflated at its lower end isold. frame, and having a cross top bar, M, to rest 10 Having thus described my invention, I claim against the latter, substantially as and for the as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent purpose set forth.

5 In a fire-escape, the flexible chute or tube ALEXANDER J. \VINDMAYER.

A, with its normally upper end connected in \Vit-uesses:

an open position to the frame E, hinged or A. NVINDMAYER,

pivoted to airuck, B, said frame being adapt l HUGO BITTER. 

